I had a dentist appointment yesterday, but I got a call from the office to
postpone it until next week. I joked with the young lady who called that I have
a 48-hour cancellation policy, so I was going to have to charge them. She
thought this was delightful, and promised to tell the doctor. Then I got a call
about 45 minutes later, saying they had received the lab delivery that provoked
the setback, so I could come in sooner if I wanted. I asked if my original
appointment was still available, and was told it was already filled. Had I
called them to cancel the appointment with three hours notice, the indeed would
have charged me for my appointment, but in this case they were able to find
someone to take my appointment in the time it takes to get a pizza delivered. It
really does make me want to print up a bill for them.

jdreyer wrote on Nov 12, 2017, 19:44:I don't think you'd get leftovers. Any federal judgeship is an extremely prestigious position that any law firm or corporation would snap up if hiring a former judge. Also, 10 or so years per level: district, appeals, and supreme. Maybe 16 years is a good number so that each presidential term replaces a quarter of the judges. I'd also like to see term limits for the Senate and House.

Maybe. I did say "if not". It would be interesting to know what the average number of federal bench appointments there are every four years and if 16 year terms would lead to a significant increases in the number of appointments on average, over 4 years.

Typically there are hundreds per presidential term. The only ones we hear about on the news are the Supreme Court ones. Obama appointed 329 judges. Trump so far has only appointed 13, but there are 150 vacancies, so he's a bit behind. If there were term limits, that number would go up a bit, but it wouldn't do anything crazy like double.

If Star Citizen was a child conceived in a night of passion, it would have started elementary school by now. -panbient

jdreyer wrote on Nov 12, 2017, 19:44:I don't think you'd get leftovers. Any federal judgeship is an extremely prestigious position that any law firm or corporation would snap up if hiring a former judge. Also, 10 or so years per level: district, appeals, and supreme. Maybe 16 years is a good number so that each presidential term replaces a quarter of the judges. I'd also like to see term limits for the Senate and House.

Maybe. I did say "if not". It would be interesting to know what the average number of federal bench appointments there are every four years and if 16 year terms would lead to a significant increases in the number of appointments on average, over 4 years.

jdreyer wrote on Nov 12, 2017, 09:30:Over the past several years, I've decided federal judges should be term-limited. Having the same people on the bench for decades and decades just isn't good, especially with technology and culture changing so rapidly. 10 to 15 years should be the max you can serve on the bench at each level.

Yeah, it is a difficult situation. The idea behind making a life time appointment is it will supposedly remove political pressure -- as opposed to the premise of a judge who would be beholding to a political process to be reappointed or re-approved on a regular basis of some kind.

Unfortunately, the judiciary has become as politicized as everything else. Far too often judges are unable to put aside their own political opinions when making decisions on the law. You do see it happen sometimes, but much more frequent are seemingly "wrong" decisions which obviously follow the judge's political beliefs. This is further complicated by a population which often has problems understanding what "right" is. Look at how difficult the struggle for civil rights has been.

The problem with making the appointments term limited is are "good" jurists going to want to abandon a thriving career in their 40s or 50s for a temporary post? If not, we will be stuck with the "left-overs" manning our judiciary, which sounds like a bad idea. If there is an easy solution to this problem, I don't know what it is.

I don't think you'd get leftovers. Any federal judgeship is an extremely prestigious position that any law firm or corporation would snap up if hiring a former judge. Also, 10 or so years per level: district, appeals, and supreme. Maybe 16 years is a good number so that each presidential term replaces a quarter of the judges. I'd also like to see term limits for the Senate and House.

If Star Citizen was a child conceived in a night of passion, it would have started elementary school by now. -panbient

jdreyer wrote on Nov 12, 2017, 09:30:Over the past several years, I've decided federal judges should be term-limited. Having the same people on the bench for decades and decades just isn't good, especially with technology and culture changing so rapidly. 10 to 15 years should be the max you can serve on the bench at each level.

Yeah, it is a difficult situation. The idea behind making a life time appointment is it will supposedly remove political pressure -- as opposed to the premise of a judge who would be beholding to a political process to be reappointed or re-approved on a regular basis of some kind.

Unfortunately, the judiciary has become as politicized as everything else. Far too often judges are unable to put aside their own political opinions when making decisions on the law. You do see it happen sometimes, but much more frequent are seemingly "wrong" decisions which obviously follow the judge's political beliefs. This is further complicated by a population which often has problems understanding what "right" is. Look at how difficult the struggle for civil rights has been.

The problem with making the appointments term limited is are "good" jurists going to want to abandon a thriving career in their 40s or 50s for a temporary post? If not, we will be stuck with the "left-overs" manning our judiciary, which sounds like a bad idea. If there is an easy solution to this problem, I don't know what it is.

Mr. Tact wrote on Nov 11, 2017, 22:36:Anything and everything Trump says, pales in comparison to some of the things he is doing...

Did you see Trump's federal judge nominee? He is a 36 year old blogger who has never tried a case. As incredible as it might seem that Trump would nominate him is the fact that every GOP member of the judicial committee voted to forward the nomination onto the full Senate, including Jeff "all talk and no action" Flake.

This loser could be on the bench for the next four decades if he gets approved, which is looking likely at this point. As I've said previously, we will be paying the price for the Trump presidency for an entire generation to come, possibly more.

Over the past several years, I've decided federal judges should be term-limited. Having the same people on the bench for decades and decades just isn't good, especially with technology and culture changing so rapidly. 10 to 15 years should be the max you can serve on the bench at each level.

If Star Citizen was a child conceived in a night of passion, it would have started elementary school by now. -panbient

Anything and everything Trump says, pales in comparison to some of the things he is doing...

Did you see Trump's federal judge nominee? He is a 36 year old blogger who has never tried a case. As incredible as it might seem that Trump would nominate him is the fact that every GOP member of the judicial committee voted to forward the nomination onto the full Senate, including Jeff "all talk and no action" Flake.

This loser could be on the bench for the next four decades if he gets approved, which is looking likely at this point. As I've said previously, we will be paying the price for the Trump presidency for an entire generation to come, possibly more.

Todd Akin's Congressional career ended after he lost a bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill in the 2012 election. Akin, who had won the Republican primary in a crowded field, led McCaskill in pre-election polls until he said that women who are victims of what he called "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant. Akin eventually apologized for the remark but rebuffed calls to withdraw from the election. He lost to McCaskill. In a book published in July 2014, Akin said that he regretted apologizing and defended his original comments.

Republicans, nuff said

Let's not forget about "wide-stance" Larry Craig, the Republican that opposed gay rights who got caught soliciting gay sex in the men's room.

Or Ted Haggard, mega church evangelical pastor who preached the sins of homosexuality until outed by his gay "masseuse."

There are others, but you get the point.

If Star Citizen was a child conceived in a night of passion, it would have started elementary school by now. -panbient

Todd Akin's Congressional career ended after he lost a bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill in the 2012 election. Akin, who had won the Republican primary in a crowded field, led McCaskill in pre-election polls until he said that women who are victims of what he called "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant. Akin eventually apologized for the remark but rebuffed calls to withdraw from the election. He lost to McCaskill. In a book published in July 2014, Akin said that he regretted apologizing and defended his original comments.

For decades, one of the most sanctimonious moralizers in American politics has been Roy Moore, the longtime Bible-thumper in Alabama who crusaded against gays, transgender people, Islam and “sexual perversion.”

Don’t cite the bible to defend child molestation.

I wonder if he found Jesus after trying to date all those under aged girls. The newly reformed tend to be the biggest proselytizers.

"Blessed are the child molesters, for they shall have seats in the Senate." -- No Bible Verse Ever

99 out of 100 times the people who tout the Bible the most, are usually the ones with the most to hide! Pharisees!!!

For decades, one of the most sanctimonious moralizers in American politics has been Roy Moore, the longtime Bible-thumper in Alabama who crusaded against gays, transgender people, Islam and “sexual perversion.”

Don’t cite the bible to defend child molestation.

I wonder if he found Jesus after trying to date all those under aged girls. The newly reformed tend to be the biggest proselytizers.

If Star Citizen was a child conceived in a night of passion, it would have started elementary school by now. -panbient

For decades, one of the most sanctimonious moralizers in American politics has been Roy Moore, the longtime Bible-thumper in Alabama who crusaded against gays, transgender people, Islam and “sexual perversion.”